Method of making pneumatic tire wheels



Sept. 6, 1932. A. J. MUSSELMAN METHOD OF MAKING PNEUMATIC TIRE WHEELS Filed Oct. 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 6*, 1932.

4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct w w m u 0 m Sept. 6, 1932. A. J. MUSYSELMAN 1,875,643

METHOD OF MAKING PNEUMATIC TIRE WHEELS Filed Oct. 4, 1929 3 -$heets-Sheet 3 Mu m J. Mussd mem Patented Sept. 6, 1932 ALVIN J. MUSSELHAN, OE AKRON,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO v METHOD OF MAKING PNEUMATIC TIRE WHEELS Application filed October 4, 1929. Serial No. 897,392.

This invention relates to pneumatic balloon 1 tires, and it has particular relation to the socalled flat-built type of tire, similar to that disclosed in either of my copending applications Serial Nos. 203,107, now Patent 1,846,269, issued Feb. 23, 1932, and 279,985, filed July 2, 1927'and May 23, 1928, respectively, which is adapted to serve as a substantially maximum portion of an entire assembly of athe wheel. Also, the invention relates to methods of making tires of the type designated.

One ob ect of the invention is to provide a tire wheel including a pneumatic tire having a much greater capacity for air under relatively low pressure, than ordinary balloon tires of equal maximum diameter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tire wheel including a pneumatic tire which can be manufactured at materially less cost than previously known tires of equal 1 maximum diameter.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide methods of manufacturing tire wheels and tires having the characteristics mentioned above. j

Balloon tires of the type generally emloyed are built either by shaping strips of abric about a toroidal core and stitchin together the requisite number of elements 0 tire building material thereon, or by building av laminated cylindrical band which is subseuently shaped and vulcanized according to t e final shape of the tire. In constructing the flat-built tires of the type previously known, the central portion of the cylindrical band was bulged radially outwardly while radially bulged and the various limitations imposed upon the relation of the-cross-sectional area of collapsible tire building cores to their other dimenslons. 1

According to this invention, a tire can be built which has such a small inner circumference that spokes or disc wheels are not required, and the tire can be mounted directly upon a supporting hub barrel to form a tire wheel. On the other hand, the outer circumference of the tire can be as great or as small as thatof any practical tire of other types. This kind of tire wheel is particularly adapted to be incorporated in the landing gear of aircraft, although it is applicable to various other types of vehicles. For. a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, of which;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a tire wheel embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of a tire wheel shown by Figure 1 Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary'plan views of rubberized fabric material employed in constructing the tire carcass;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of a c lindrical mandrel upon which a fabric ban is formed according to the invention; I

- I Figure 6 1s a cross-sect1onalv1ew of a band shaped upon a spherical airbag;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of one form of bead ring for a tire;

Figure 8 is' a fragmentary cross sectional view, on a larger scale, of a tire and hub barrel upon which it is mounted;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of a bead portion of the tire;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a tire illustrating the method of applying beads thereto; Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating another method of applying beads;

igure 12 is a diagrammatical fragmentary cross-sectional view of a laminated band of rubberized fabric which has been prepared cal view of a construction similar to that shown by Figures 10 and 11.

Inthe preferred form of the invention, strips' of tire building material and 21, composed of fabric 22 and 23 that is impregnated or coated with rubber layers 24 and 25, respectively, are disposed in one or more layers upon a collapsible cylindrical forming drum 27 to form a laminated cylindrical endless band 28. The diameter of the drum is pproximatel the same as that of the cometed tire. cops 29 are formed at the edge portions of the band by foldin the original extremities thereof toward eac other. The band is completed by securing the extremt ties in overlapping and interfltting relation, as indicated at 32, and by applying ressure thereto with a roller or other suita le tool.

After the band 28 has been removed from the drum 27 it is slit at the looped portions thereof to form relatively small openings 33 through which bead elements in the form 0 gatherin or shirring vrings 34 are inserted into the oops. The looped edges are then gathered or shirred about the relatively small circumference of the rings-34, while the outer central circumference of the band remains substantially unchanged. 1

Either before matter the gathering rings 34 have been inserted into the loops, or after one of the rings has been so inserted, a substantially spherical airbag 36 having a valve stem 37 therein is inserted within the band 28. The airba is inflated while both rings 34 of the ban are disposed within the loops, and the valve stem projects through-one of the rings. The airbag is inflated until its surface is very firm and shapes the band to the form shown by Figure 6. Then the inflating fluid is exhausted 'until the airbag is inflated at a relatively low pressure.

Bead rings 38 comprising a bead core 39 and anchoring strips 42 are applied upon each edge portion of the band adjacent the gathering rings 34. The outer strip 42 has a portion 43 which is secured to the inside of the band, as indicated at the right hand side of-Figure 6. Since the airbag at this sta e' of the construction is inflated at a relative y low pressure, it can be bulged inwardly to facilitate application of the portion 43, as described.

A rubber tread 44 comprising annular discs 45 is applied to sides of the band in such manner that-the disc s overlap at their outer edges along a line 40 and extend along the side walls of t e tire carcass tothe bead portions 34 and 38. After vulcanization the discs 45 are of course integral instead of being divided along the line 40. Additional layers of rubber may be added to thicken the ground engaging portion of the tread. After the tread has been applied, the spherical airbag 36 is-removed and an annular airbag is inserted therein which corresponds in shape and .the band 64.

size to the inner tube 46, shown in Figure 8. In this form the whole assembly is placed into a mold for the purpose of vulcanization. After the airbaghas been inflated, the assembly is vulcanized in a conventional manner to form a tire 47.

A pluralit of radial recesses and ribs 48 are formed a out the bead portions of the tire 47 and correspond to similar recesses and ribs 49 formed upon annular rings 52 that are secured upon a hub barrel 53. Substantially radial flan es 54 extend outwardly from the rings 52. These rings are maintained upon the hub barrel by means of an annular shoulder 54 and nuts 56, and dowel pins 57 prevent the rin s from rotating upon the hub barrel. A suita le axle 58 rotatably supports a'hub barrel 53 and is provided with nuts 59 to maintain the hub barrel in its proper operative position. The axle forms a part of an aircraft landing gear 60. When the tire is mounted upon the hub barrel, the recesses and ribs 48 and 49 interfit in such manner as to provide a firm connection between the tire beads and the hub.

In the form of the invention shown by Figure 10, the rings 34 are removed and inextensible beads 62 are inserted within the loops 29. In this construction the extremities 63 of the band do not overlap, and they can be disengaged and turned outwardly, as shown at the right hand side of Figure 10 to permit insertion of the beads 62. Then the extremities are pressed back to the position shown at the left hand side of Figure 10. The other tire building operations for completing the tire are the same as those described above.

Referring to Figure 11, the gathering ring portion of the band adjacent the rings 34.

being disturbed and is applied circumferem tially about the airbag 36. In this construction, the strip 64 is composed of rubberized fabric having adhesive surfaces which adhere to the airbag on the one side and to the bands 28 on the other or outer side. Thus when the extremities 63 are disengaged to permitwithdrawal of the temporary bead 34 and the insertion of the permanent endless bead ring 62, the portions of the plies 28 adjacent the loops 29 are held firmly against the airbag by If desirable, the band 64" may then be removed or it may be slit circum: ferentially along a line 80 at the bead openings of the tire and the edges adjacent the slit stitched to the contiguous portions of the strip 64 extending about the vtioned above.

to Figure 5, and subsequently arranged in.

telescoping relation, as shown by Figure 12.

Also, one of the bands can be shaped and sub sequently a second hand inserted therein, which is then inflated by employing the airbag 36 or the like. The looped edge portions 29 are shirred or gathered about the rings 34 or drawn by means of flexible tensile members in shirred relation about the central support or hub barrel. Thus the tire is composed of as many plies as necessary for any strength or size of tire wheel, and a plurality of tensile gathering members 34 or 70 are employed in addition to the beads 38 or 62. On the other hand, if desirable, the telescoping double band construction can be em ployed in tire wheels similar to those dis closed in the copending applications men- By experiment it has been found that more than one gathering ring at each side of the tire adapt themselves in per fectly fitting relation in a tire wheel assembly after separate bands 28 have been formed and subsequently telescoped in the manner described.

As best shown by Figures 13 and 14, the ring 34 is provided with overlapping ends and 7 6 having interfitting teeth 77 which are interlocked when the ring is in its normal position. Preferably the ring is composed of resilient metal and the ends 7 5 and 77 are sprung apart, as shown by the broken lines of Figure 14, in order to receive the loops 29 which are gathered thereon. If desirable a suitable pin 78 can be inserted through the ends 7 5 and 7 6 to insure proper connection of the latter in addition to the interlocking teeth 77.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the pneumatic tire 47 and the hub barrel constitute a tire wheel without a wheel disc or spokes, and in which the rubberized fabric is greatly condensed about the bead portions adjacent the side walls of the tire; that is, the cords are compressed very closely together to form substantially uniformly curved surface configuration. Accordingly, the tire is able to withstand relatively great loads, although the side walls are relatively thin, and the transverse crosssectional diameter of the tire is relatively great. Thus, a tire of this character which is relatively inexpensive and has a maximum air capacity also has a wide ground engaging tread that facilitates the supporting of heavy loads under relatively low pressure.

'Although only the preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited,

butithat various modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A method of making a tire casing which comprises forming a band of flexible fabric, gathering the lateral edge portions into annuli of relatively small diameter, inflating the structure into spherical form, applying tire beads to the gathered portions at said annuli, applying rubber to the fabric, and

vulcanizing the structure in a mold of suitable contour to form an annular contracted tire base having tire flanges adapted to be seated between retaining rings.

2. A method of making a tire casing which comprises forming a casing fabric upon a spherical airbag, applying inextensible beads to the lateral edge portions of the fabric, in-

corporating a suitable rubber compound with the fabric, and vulcanizing the structure in an annular tire mold.

' 3. A method of making a tire casing which comprises forming a substantially cylindrical band of rubberized fabric, folding the edge portions of said band upon and stitching them tothe body of the band, inserting gathering devices in the loops thus formed, gathering the lateral edge portions of the band into annuli of relatively small diameter, inflating the structure while retaining the maximum diameter of the band substantially equal to the diameter of the original cylindrical form, applying tire beads to the band while it is inflated, and subjecting the structure to vulcanization in a mold serving to provide an annular tire base of restricted cross-section. I

4. A method of building pneumatic tires which comprises forming an endless band of tire building material, folding the band to form looped edge portions, shirring the looped edge portions about annular retaining members of relatively small diameter while the maximum diameter of the band remains discs of rubber compound tothe sides of the A band and in joint forming relation at the central tread portion of the band, and vulcanizing the assembly of elements in a mold.

5. A method of building a tire casing which comprises applying a strip of adhesive material about an inflatable member, applying 7 temporarybead elements to the edge portions of a band of tire building material, temporarily applying the edge portions of the band of tire building material to the edge portions of the strip upon the'inflatable member, replacing the temporary bead elements with permanent bead rings, and removing the band from the inflatable member and 6; A method of making a tire casing which comprises shirring the lateral edges of a band of tire building material, applying a strip of adhesive material about an inflatable member, adhering the edge portions of the band to the edge portions of the strip upon the inflatable member, slitting the strip, and permanently securin the slit strip to the edge portions of the and.

- 7. The method of building tires having relatively large cross-sectional but small bead diameters which includes building a pulley carcass of a diameter substantially that of the desired overall diameter of the finished tire,

5 said carcass being provided with loops at its edges, slitting the looped edges of the carcass to allow split beads of relatively small diameter to be worked into the loops, shirring the. edges of the carcass over the w beads to change the pulley-shaped carcass to toroidal shape, and thereafter vulcanizing the tire carcass.

8. llhe method of building tires having relatively large cross-sectional but small head as diameters which includes building a pulley carcass of a diameter substantially that of the desired overall diameter of the finished tire, said carcass beingprovided with loops at its edges, slitting the looped edges of the carcass.

an to allow split beads of relatively small diameter to be worked into the loops, shirring the edges of the carcass over the beads, locking the ends of each split bead together, and thereafter vulcanizing the'tire carcass.

35 In witness whereof, l have hereunto signed my name.

Signed at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, U. S. A., this 30th day of September, 1929.-

40 ALVIN J. MUSSELMAN. 

